BEGATS AND BEQUEATHALS

I’ve told you previously that I don’t know exactly when and where Thomas Whitlock and Hannah Phillips married — but that the dates of birth of their older children suggest to me a date of marriage around or somewhat before 1770. I’ve also stated that the bible of their daughter Sarah and husband Thomas Brooks places Thomas and Hannah in Bedford County when Sarah was born 9 June 1774.

Now I’ve discovered this new record: Bedford County court minutes for 26 July 1769 state that Hannah Whitlock was paid for three days’ attendance at court to testify on behalf of Lucy Parrish, who alleged that Henry Guthery (Guthrie) had threatened and abused her (Beford County, Virginia, Court Order Bk. 3, p. 551).

So Thomas and Hannah had married by 26 July 1769, and were in Bedford County by that time. I can’t tell you anything about the Parrish-Guthery/Guthrie story, unfortunately, since I haven’t researched it.

I notice that one of the gentlemen justices seated at Bedford court at this court session was James Callaway, who was one of the witnesses to the March 1776 Montgomery County deed of Jonathan Jennings to Charles Lynch of Bedford that is the first record I find of Thomas Whitlock in Montgomery County.

I’m also working now to figure out more about a Richard Phillips who witnessed the 9 October 1752 will of Charles Lynch’s father Charles Lynch Sr. in Albemarle County (Albemarle County, Virginia, Will Bk. 2, pp. 7-8). Records I’m finding lead me to conclude that Richard was a brother of William Phillips, who was one of the three men settling the estate of James Whitlock, father of Thomas, in Louisa County in November 1757. And, of course, I’m interested in these Phillips men in Louisa and Albemarle Counties since I’m persuaded that Thomas Whitlock’s wife Hannah was née Phillips.

P.S. I’ve researched the Bedford County court order book minutes through Book 3 (cited above) for information about the Parrish v. Guthery case to see if I could find any information that helped me understand how Hannah Phillips Whitlock came to know Lucy Parrish and to testify on her behalf. I find no information that explains the connection. Here’s what I find about the case:

March 1769: Parrish v. Guthery and wife impaneled (Bk. 3, p. 500).

March 1769: issue in ditto (ibid., p. 512).

June 1769: ditto continued (ibid., p. 544).

July 1769 ditto: jury gives verdict for plaintiff (ibid., 550). Note that it was at this same court session (see supra) that Lucy Parrish complained of threats against her by Henry Guthery (because her case was successful?). He was then placed on good behavior for a year and gave bond for ￡50 (ibid., p. 551).

October 1769: injunction granted Henry in this suit (ibid., p. 581).

December 1769: Guthery v. Parrish, injunction dissolved for want of a bill (ibid., p. 592) (So Henry turned around and filed suit against Lucy after she won her case against him.)

February 1770: on motion of Henry, his injunction against Lucy was reinstated (ibid., p. 602).

March 1771 – July 1771: case continued (ibid., pp. 646, 675, 691, 702, 717, 756, 766).

August 1771: ordered that the injunction be permanent (ibid., p. 789).